Within the screenplay for the heartwarming army dramedy “My Useless Pal Zoe,” author/director Kyle Hausmann-Stokes made positive to incorporate just a few scenes set at group veteran remedy classes led by Morgan Freeman (himself a service veteran). However he left some key traces within the script clean. All he wrote was “every veteran stands and tells their story,” and “that’s how we filmed it.”
“I labored very onerous to be like, ‘These veterans are simply normal-ass individuals,’” Hausmann-Stokes instructed IndieWire throughout a current interview. Hausmann-Stokes would know: the filmmaker is an Military paratrooper who acquired a bronze star whereas serving in Iraq in 2007.
He estimates that as many as 90 p.c of his movie‘s solid is a veteran of the U.S. army, together with nearly the complete supporting solid, background extras, and co-star Freeman. The movie’s manufacturing sound mixer can also be a Marine Corps veteran, and it’s the uncommon movie that makes a push for veteran illustration on and off the display.
There’s no scarcity of army tales in Hollywood, whether or not they’re set throughout a warfare or that grapple with PTSD after the battles. However Hausmann-Stokes believes most veteran-centric movies fall on two extremes of the character spectrum: they’re both about being a super-soldier or a damaged down, drunk, offended particular person outlined by the ache and trauma of fight.
It’s far much less widespread to see one thing within the center, “the place 99 p.c of veterans reside,” he stated.
For his characteristic directorial debut, the filmmaker didn’t need to strive for an “eat your greens” story that urges its viewers to help a film with veterans, however fairly an sincere, usually humorous portrait of life after service.
“After all you’re modified and impacted by the issues that we did. We had a bizarre job, and it’s solely regular to be affected by that, however we’re additionally stronger due to it, not weaker,” Hausmann-Stokes stated. “So I name this a movie about post-traumatic progress. I feel that’s a phrase that you just’re going to begin to hear much more about. I like the concept scar tissue is stronger than pores and skin.”
“My Useless Pal Zoe” follows vet Advantage (Sonequa Martin-Inexperienced) who, after dropping her finest buddy within the service (Natalie Morales as Zoe), begins seeing her in every single place she goes. Advantage finds herself unable to open up about what occurred, and it’s solely when she begins coping with her grandfather Dale’s (Ed Harris) Alzheimer’s prognosis that her psychological well being and grief is additional examined. The movie gained the Viewers Award from the 2024 SXSW Movie Competition, and is now gearing up for its theatrical launch this week.
Hausmann-Stokes likes to say the movie is “93 p.c autobiographic,” aside from the protagonists being gender-flipped. It’s a largely private story and ends with footage of a few of his companions he additionally misplaced in the midst of his service.
However “My Useless Pal Zoe” can also be an influence movie made with the help of three totally different non-profits that by no means accomplice with films: Mission Continues, The Bob Woodruff Basis, and Everytown USA. Travis Kelce in his first position as an govt producer singled out this film due to its veteran influence ties.
And, not not like huge success “Sound of Freedom,” the movie ends with a “pay-it-forward” call-to-action marketing campaign that may purchase film tickets as a part of theater buyouts for veterans. The movie hasn’t even opened but, nevertheless it’s already raised $12,000 in a handful of AMC sneak preview screenings.
All of that is within the curiosity of getting extra veterans concerned throughout Hollywood, a lot of whom haven’t constructed up the connections others in Hollywood have to hitch the business and share their story. Hausmann-Stokes started his movie profession when he was granted an exemption from a stop-loss to attend movie faculty at USC and use his expertise to work on PSAs and quick movies for the army and VA. Hausmann-Stokes can also be the co-founder of Veterans in Media & Leisure, which offers networking and counseling sources to over 5,000 veteran members trying to become involved in Hollywood. The late Stan Lee, who served in World Conflict II, as soon as counted himself among the many members.
“What Hollywood has a superb begin on however must proceed is definitely not being afraid to the touch veterans and veterans’ tales, not being too treasured about it and being too afraid to offend any individual,” Hausmann-Stokes stated. “As a result of if there’s one factor I attempt to do in my movie is to indicate that veterans, we could be simply as messy and simply as difficult characters as anyone else.”
“My Useless Pal Zoe” opens in theaters from Briarcliff Leisure on Friday, February 28.